George Weissman
Encyclopedia
George Weissman was an American
businessman and a former president of Philip Morris (now Altria
).
Weismann was born in the Bronx
on July 12, 1919. After graduating from Townsend Harris High School
, he attended Baruch College
in 1939 and worked as the editor of a small weekly newspaper in New Jersey, then as a reporter for The Star-Ledger
of Newark, New Jersey
. After enlisting in the United States Navy
the day after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
and serving for more than three years during World War II
as a commander of a submarine destroyer then onto an anti personnel naval ship, he switched to public relations
, first at Samuel Goldwyn Productions and then public relations consultant Benjamin Sonnenberg
where Philip Morris was a client.
In 1952, he joined Philip Morris as assistant to the president and director of public relations. The next year he was elected vice-president of the company, handling not only public relations and market research but also new product development and packaging. He joined the company's board of directors in 1958. Weissman was appointed chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Philip Morris International, leading its expansion overseas. He became president of the corporation in 1967, vice-chairman in 1973 and chairman and chief executive officer in 1978.
Weissman retired in 1984, but continued to serve the company in various advisory roles. He joined the board of directors of Paramount Communications, a position he held for the next decade.
His volunteer pursuits included board chairman of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
, founding board member of Jazz at Lincoln Center, a trustee of the Whitney Museum, and a director of the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His political work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
.
Baruch College
's Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
is named after him, and his wife Mildred.
He died at age 90 on July 24, 2009, in Greenwich, Connecticut
due to the results of an accidental fall at his home in Rye, New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and a former president of Philip Morris (now Altria
Altria Group
Altria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations...
).
Weismann was born in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
on July 12, 1919. After graduating from Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School is a public magnet high school for the humanities in the borough of Queens in New York City. Students and alumni often refer to themselves as "Harrisites." Townsend Harris consistently ranks as among the top 100 High Schools in the United States. It currently operates as...
, he attended Baruch College
Baruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
in 1939 and worked as the editor of a small weekly newspaper in New Jersey, then as a reporter for The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. After enlisting in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
the day after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
and serving for more than three years during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a commander of a submarine destroyer then onto an anti personnel naval ship, he switched to public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
, first at Samuel Goldwyn Productions and then public relations consultant Benjamin Sonnenberg
Benjamin Sonnenberg
Benjamin Sonnenberg was a Russian-born American press agent who represented celebrities and major corporations, who was best known for the lavish entertaining he did for his clients and other notables at his Manhattan townhouse located at 19 Gramercy Park South.Sonnenberg was born in...
where Philip Morris was a client.
In 1952, he joined Philip Morris as assistant to the president and director of public relations. The next year he was elected vice-president of the company, handling not only public relations and market research but also new product development and packaging. He joined the company's board of directors in 1958. Weissman was appointed chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Philip Morris International, leading its expansion overseas. He became president of the corporation in 1967, vice-chairman in 1973 and chairman and chief executive officer in 1978.
Weissman retired in 1984, but continued to serve the company in various advisory roles. He joined the board of directors of Paramount Communications, a position he held for the next decade.
His volunteer pursuits included board chairman of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
, founding board member of Jazz at Lincoln Center, a trustee of the Whitney Museum, and a director of the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His political work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
Master list of Nixon political opponents
A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixon's Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. The master list was compiled by Charles Colson's office and sent in memorandum form to John Dean. Dean later provided this...
.
Baruch College
Baruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
's Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
The Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, is a school within Baruch College of the City University of New York, named after alumni George Weissman, former president of Philip Morris, and his wife, Mildred....
is named after him, and his wife Mildred.
He died at age 90 on July 24, 2009, in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
due to the results of an accidental fall at his home in Rye, New York.